Category: exporting pets

Certain breeds of dogs require a “CR 82” crate. This designation from IATA (the International Air Transport Association) comes from the Live Animal Regulations. (LAR) The IATA LAR recommends all the construction details for all kinds of crates – from seals to buffalo to dogs and cats to reptiles.

The metal crate produced commercially from Impact (KonnectPet) and Zinger do not technically meet the requirements of a CR82 but most airlines will accept them in place of a custom made CR82. The airlines biggest concern is a dog that can chew out of a crate, and, in the past, that has caused huge damage inside aircraft to the internal cargo areas and even the wiring and controls for flying.

Hence breeds like a American Staffordshire, American Pitbull, Dogo Argentino, American Bull terrier, Cane Corso are often listed as “dangerous dogs” requiring a chew proof crate.

We happens to be a retailer for the Impact crates. Please click on this link to visit Impact and purchase a metal crate to suit your needs, or call us directly as we usually have 1-2 crates in stock.

KennectPet crate

The crates come in a variety of styles, sizes and even great colors!

And even if you don’t need it for shipping, the metal crates are a lot more durable than a plastic kennel – great for hunters on the go, high anxiety dogs (yep there is a special crate for this!) who suffer separation anxiety or other personality quirks when stressed.

Pet shipments, any pet transportation really, must abide by a lot of country rules, some of which don’t really ever seem to make sense.

For 5 months I have been working with another agent to get “Blue” the American Bully to India. 3 times we have had him booked to go, only to find out at the last minute – last time I was literally on the way to the airport with him – that there would be a problem with customs upon arrival.

And so I turned around and brought him back. He’s stayed with friends, owners have traveled back and forth from India and he’s been boarding now for 3 or 4 weeks.

Today he finally gets to go. The issues have not been with any of his paperwork, but the fact that the owners have spent too much time in India prior to having Blue join them. India has strict rules about pet importation, and basically they do not allow in pets for sale. I guess that’s what they might have been afraid of, since Blue’s mom had spent more time in India the prior 6 months, than outside the country. So they may not consider him “her” dog, as she didn’t take him with her immediately.

Whatever the reason, and whatever the pet travel, there are rules that must be met and followed. While most countries will work with an owner or pet shipping company to meet requirements, or resort to quarantine, there are some countries that will immediately return a pet, and some even worse, will euthanize pets.

If you are not using a pet shipper, make sure you investigate with due diligence to make sure your pet complies to the rules. There are also some of us that will charge a fee just to help with paperwork and work with you and your vet, even if we are not moving the pet.

This brief You Tube video from John Scanlon, Secretary General of CITES explains what the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species is. As pet shippers we frequently deal with CITES permits for birds, zoo animals, and even inspections of something as simple as the export of a guinea pig (which while not a CITES species still needs to be inspected by US Fish and Wildlife prior to export).John Scanlon on CITES

The time may come when you need a new veterinary office to visit. Maybe you moved and now live in a new area. Maybe you had a falling out with the veterinarian you have been using. Maybe you never liked that office to begin with.

Here’s some advice to find a veterinary hospital matched to your needs:

Later this year, all pets will be required to go to the new quarantine center in Melbourne. The Perth quarantine center closed last year, and with the opening of the new center, the facility in Sydney will close too. The problem with Melbourne is that the pets must travel there directly. Compared to Sydney, there will only be a couple flights a day from LAX for all pets, compared to several airlines each with multiple flights per day from LAX and San Francisco. While more pets will be allowed per plane, chances are that we will not always get the flight or date wanted.

Will no direct flights from the east coast or from Canada, it means we will be sending all pets to LAX to another agent and colleague to finalize documents or, at a minimum, collect off a domestic flight and then hand off on a Qantas flight.

Additionally, the fees for quarantine, arrival, and permits have increased. The new facility houses not only dogs and cats, but also birds, horses and all other animal imports.

The rules for importation into Australia are stringent, and the preparation starts months in advance. This is not a move that can take place on short notice, nor is it inexpensive. Cats are easier than dogs, since the blood testing required for dogs is not applicable to cats.